Title: A RETICULATED OPEN-CELL FOAM MODIFIED BY FIBERS EXTENDING ACROSS AND BETWEEN THE CELLS OF SAID FOAM AND PREPARATION METHODS THEREOF

 Number/Link: WO2013010245

Applicant/Assignee: EPIC VENTURES INC

Publication date: 24-01-2013

“Gist”: Reticulated polyurethane foams containing fibers extending across and between cells. The foams can then be impregnated with metals (Nickel) and the polymer pyrolized resulting in porous metal structures useful in batteries.

Why it is interesting:  Reticulated foams (i.e. foams consisting only of a ‘strut skeleton’ and having no cell membranes) are well known, but the application is not clear about which process is to be used in this case, neither does it provide an example of a formulation. Chopped metal, glass or carbon  fibers are added to the foam-forming composition supposedly ‘resulting’ in a reticulated foam/fibre composite.  The fibers extend over about 5 cell diameters (e.g. 1-1.5 mm ) and are used in 10-30% v/v. Foams like this could be interesting for filtration, heat exchange and especially sound absorption -with  the fibers adding extra “tortuosity”. The patent is mainly concerned with the subsequent production of metal foams for use in batteries e.g.

Reticulated Foam with Fibers